Fluid delivery device, transcutaneous access tool and fluid drive mechanism for use therewith

ABSTRACT

A fluid delivery device comprising a fluid reservoir; a transcutaneous access tool fluidly coupled to the fluid reservoir; and a drive mechanism for driving fluid from the reservoir, the drive mechanism comprising a plunger received in the reservoir; a leadscrew extending from the plunger; a nut threadably engaged with the leadscrew; a drive wheel; and a clutch mechanism coupled to the drive wheel, wherein the clutch mechanism is configured to allow the nut to pass through when disengaged and is configured to grip the nut when engaged such that the drive wheel rotates the nut to advance the drive rod and the plunger into the reservoir.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of PCT Application Ser. No. PCT/US13/34674 filed Mar. 29, 2013 and claims the benefit of the filing dateof U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/618,028, filed Mar. 30,2012, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to fluid delivery devices for deliveringtherapeutic liquids to a patient, and more particularly, to an infusionpump for delivering therapeutic liquids to a patient.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Fluid delivery devices have numerous uses such as delivering a liquidmedicine or other therapeutic fluid to a patient subcutaneously. In apatient with diabetes mellitus, for example, ambulatory infusion pumpshave been used to deliver insulin to a patient. These ambulatoryinfusion pumps have the ability to offer sophisticated fluid deliveryprofiles including variable basal rates and bolus requirements. Theability to carefully control drug delivery can result in better efficacyof the drug and therapy and less toxicity to the patient.

Some existing ambulatory infusion pumps include a reservoir to containthe liquid medicine and use electromechanical pumping or meteringtechnology to deliver the liquid medicine via tubing to a needle and/orsoft cannula that is inserted subcutaneously into the patient. Theseexisting devices allow control and programming via electromechanicalbuttons or switches located on the housing of the device. The devicesinclude visual feedback via text or graphic screens and may includealert or warning lights and audio or vibration signals and alarms. Suchdevices are typically worn in a harness or pocket or strapped to thebody of the patient.

Some infusion pumps have been designed to be relatively small, low cost,light-weight, and easy-to-use. One example of such a pump is theOMNIPOD® insulin infusion pump available from Insulet Corporation.Examples of infusion pumps are also described in greater detail, forexample, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,128,727; 7,018,360; and 7,144,384 and U.S.Patent Application Publication Nos. 2007/0118405, 2006/0282290,2005/0238507, and 2004/0010207, which are fully incorporated herein byreference. These pumps include insertion mechanisms for causing atranscutaneous access tool, such as a needle and/or soft cannula, to beinserted into a patient. Although such pumps are effective and providesignificant advantages over other insulin infusion pumps, the design ofthe insertion mechanism may be improved, for example, to reduce the sizeof the pump, to improve the comfort to the user, and/or to incorporatecontinuous glucose monitoring (CGM). These pumps also include fluiddriving mechanisms for driving fluid from a reservoir through thetranscutaneous access tool. The fluid driving mechanisms may also beimproved to facilitate assembly and use of the pump.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides various fluid delivery devices todeliver a liquid medicine or other therapeutic fluid to a patientsubcutaneously. In certain embodiments the fluid delivery device maycomprise an ambulatory insulin infusion device to administer insulin toa patient. The fluid delivery device may include one or more batteriesfor providing a power source, a fluid reservoir for holding a fluid, afluid drive mechanism for driving the fluid out of the reservoir, afluid passage mechanism for receiving the fluid from the reservoir andpassing the fluid to a destination via a transcutaneous access tool, anda transcutaneous access tool insertion mechanism for deploying thetranscutaneous access tool.

In certain embodiments, the drive mechanism may comprise a clutchmechanism. As explained herein, by using a clutch mechanism, the numberof fluid path prime pulses to prime the pump may be reduced and a fulland proper priming of the fluid path before placement on the body may bebetter assured. The clutch mechanism may also be made suitable for otherdrug applications without significant redesign, and be more easilyinspected than conventional drive mechanisms for infusion devices.

In certain embodiments, the fluid delivery device may comprise a fluidreservoir; a transcutaneous access tool fluidly coupled to the fluidreservoir; and a drive mechanism for driving fluid from the reservoir.The drive mechanism may comprise a plunger received in the reservoir; aleadscrew extending from the plunger; a nut threadably engaged with theleadscrew; a drive wheel; and a clutch mechanism coupled to the drivewheel, wherein the clutch mechanism is configured to allow the nut topass through the clutch mechanism when disengaged and is configured togrip the nut when engaged such that the drive wheel rotates the nut toadvance the leadscrew and the plunger into the reservoir.

In certain embodiments, the fluid delivery device may comprise a fluidreservoir; a transcutaneous access tool fluidly coupled to the fluidreservoir; and a drive mechanism for driving fluid from the reservoirThe drive mechanism may comprise a plunger received in the reservoir; anelongated assembly comprising a first elongated member and a secondelongated member; the first elongated member extending from the plunger;the second elongated member coupled to the first elongated member; adrive wheel; and a clutch mechanism coupled to the drive wheel, whereinthe clutch mechanism is configured to allow the second elongated memberto pass through when disengaged and is configured to grip the secondelongated member when engaged such that the drive wheel rotates thesecond elongated member to advance the first elongated member and theplunger into the reservoir.

In certain embodiments, a method of operating a foregoing fluid deliverydevice may comprise providing the fluid delivery device; holding theclutch mechanism in a disengaged position; filling the fluid reservoirwith fluid; passing the second elongated member through the clutchmechanism such that the plunger is retracted within the reservoir;releasing the clutch mechanism from the disengaged position; andengaging the clutch mechanism with the second elongated member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages will be better understood byreading the following detailed description, taken together with thedrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a fluid delivery device with atranscutaneous access tool insertion mechanism in a pre-deploymentposition, consistent with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of a needle and cannula retractedinto the fluid delivery device in the pre-deployment position shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the fluid delivery device shown inFIG. 1 with the insertion mechanism in an intermediate position;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the needle and cannula extendingfrom the fluid delivery device in the intermediate position shown inFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the fluid delivery device shown inFIG. 1 with the insertion mechanism in a post-deployment position;

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the cannula extending from thefluid delivery device in the post-deployment position shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a fluid driving mechanism of thefluid delivery device shown in FIG. 1 with a clutch mechanism in adisengaged position prior to filling;

FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the fluid driving mechanismshown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the fluid driving mechanism shown inFIG. 7 with the clutch mechanism in a disengaged position after filling;

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the fluid driving mechanism shownin FIG. 7 with the clutch mechanism being released to the engagedposition; and

FIGS. 11 and 12 are top perspective views of the fluid driving mechanismshown in FIG. 7 with the clutch mechanism in the engaged position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A fluid delivery device, consistent with embodiments of the presentdisclosure, may be used to deliver a therapeutic fluid (e.g. a liquidmedicine) to a patient via a transcutaneous access tool, such as aneedle/trocar and/or a cannula. A transcutaneous access tool insertionmechanism may be used to deploy the transcutaneous access tool, forexample, by inserting and retracting a needle/trocar in a single,uninterrupted motion. The insertion mechanism may also provide anincreasing insertion force as the needle/trocar moves in the insertiondirection. The fluid delivery device may also include a clutch mechanismto facilitate filling a reservoir and engagement of a drive mechanismfor driving fluid out of the reservoir. In certain embodiments, thefluid delivery device may comprise an ambulatory insulin infusiondevice.

In other embodiments, a fluid delivery device may be used to deliver atherapeutic fluid to a patient with integrated monitoring, such ascontinuous glucose monitoring (CGM). In these embodiments, the fluiddeliver device may include a transcutaneous access tool configured tointroduce a monitoring test strip through the skin of the patient, forexample, using one or more needles, cannulas and/or trocars.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, one embodiment of a fluid delivery device 100 isshown and described. In the exemplary embodiment, the fluid deliverydevice 100 is used to subcutaneously deliver a fluid, such as a liquidmedicine (e.g. insulin), to a person or an animal. Those skilled in theart will recognize that the fluid delivery device 100 may be used todeliver other types of fluids. The fluid delivery device 100 may be usedto deliver fluids in a controlled manner, for example, according tofluid delivery profiles accomplishing bolus requirements, continuousinfusion and variable flow rate delivery.

According to one embodiment, the fluid delivery device 100 may includeone or more batteries 110 for providing a power source, a fluidreservoir 130 for holding a fluid, a fluid drive mechanism 150 fordriving the fluid out of the reservoir 130, a fluid passage mechanism170 for receiving the fluid from the reservoir 130 and passing the fluidto a destination via a transcutaneous access tool 172, and atranscutaneous access tool insertion mechanism 180 for deploying thetranscutaneous access tool 172. The fluid delivery device 100 mayinclude a circuit board 101 with control circuitry for controlling thedevice and a chassis 102 that provides mechanical and/or electricalconnections between components of the fluid deliver device 100. Thefluid delivery device 100 may also include a housing 104 to enclose thecircuit board 101, the chassis 102, and the components 110, 130, 150,170, 180.

The fluid delivery device 100 may also include integrated monitoringsuch as continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). A monitor test strip 120coupled to a monitor (not shown) in the device 100 may be introduced bythe transcutaneous access tool 172 subcutaneously. One example of themonitor test strip is a CGM test strip (such as the type available fromNova Biomedical) which may be understood as a glucose sensor configuredto test for a concentration level of glucose in the blood of a patient.The fluid delivery device 100 may be configured to receive data from themonitoring test strip concerning a glucose level of the patient, anddetermining an output of insulin from the reservoir based on the glucoselevel.

The transcutaneous access tool 172 includes an introducer trocar orneedle 174 at least partially positioned within a lumen 175 of a cannula176 (e.g., a soft flexible cannula), which is capable of passing thefluid into the patient. In particular, the introducer needle/trocar 174may initially penetrate the skin such that both the introducerneedle/trocar 174 and the cannula 176 are introduced (inserted) into thepatient, and the introducer needle/trocar 174 may then be retractedwithin the cannula 176 such that the cannula 176 remains inserted. Afluid path, such as tubing 178, fluidly couples the reservoir 130 to thelumen 175 of cannula 176 of the transcutaneous access tool 172.

The transcutaneous access tool insertion mechanism 180 is coupled to thetranscutaneous access tool 172 to deploy the transcutaneous access tool172, for example, by inserting the needle/trocar 174 and cannula 176through the skin of a patient and retracting the needle/trocar 174. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the insertion mechanism 180 includes aspring-biased linkage mechanism 182 and sliding members 184, 186 coupledto the needle/trocar 174 and cannula 176, respectively, for moving theneedle/trocar 174 and cannula 176 in the insertion direction and formoving the needle/trocar 174 in the retraction direction. In a single,uninterrupted motion, the spring-biased linkage mechanism 182 moves froma pre-deployment position (FIG. 1) with both needle/trocar 174 andcannula 176 retracted (FIG. 2) to an intermediate position (FIG. 3) withboth needle/trocar 174 and cannula 176 inserted (FIG. 4) to apost-deployment position (FIG. 5) with the needle/trocar 174 retractedand the cannula 176 inserted (FIG. 6).

Referring to FIGS. 7-12, one embodiment of the fluid drive mechanism 150uses a clutch mechanism 160 to facilitate filling of the reservoir 130and engagement of the fluid drive mechanism 150 for driving fluid out ofthe reservoir 130. The fluid drive mechanism 150 includes a firstthreaded member in the form of an elongated shaft such as a threadeddrive rod or leadscrew 152, with external threads extending from aplunger 136 received in the reservoir 130 and sealed with an o-ring 137against the inside surface of the reservoir 130. The leadscrew 152 andplunger 136 may be an inseparable, insert-molded assembly. A secondthreaded member in the form of an elongated shaft such as a tube nut 154with internal threads threadably engages the leadscrew 152 and may bedriven by a drive wheel 156 via a clutch mechanism 160.

When the reservoir 130 is empty (FIGS. 7 and 8), the plunger 136 ispositioned at one end of the reservoir 130 such that the plunger 136 isextended and the clutch mechanism 160 is disengaged. In certainembodiments, the reservoir 130 may be filled with fluid, particularlyinsulin, by opening an inlet port to the reservoir 130 and pumping inthe insulin under sufficient hydraulic pressure to retract the plunger136 within the reservoir 130. Thereafter, the inlet port may be closed.When the reservoir 130 is filled and the plunger 136 moves to theopposite (retracted) end of the reservoir 130 (FIG. 9), the clutchmechanism 160 remains disengaged to allow the tube nut 154 to pass intoan elongated cylindrical bore (along the drive axis) of a hub of thedrive wheel 156. The clutch mechanism 160 may then be engaged (FIGS.10-12) such that rotation of the drive wheel 156 causes the clutchmechanism 160 to rotate the tube nut 154, which causes the leadscrew 152to advance the plunger into the reservoir 130 to deliver the fluid fromthe reservoir 130. In alternative embodiments, the reservoir 130 may befilled when the plunger 136 is already retracted.

In the illustrated embodiment, the clutch mechanism 160 includes aclutch spring 162 (e.g., a helical torsion spring) located in acounterbore at one end of the drive wheel 156, adjacent the reservoir130. The inside diameter of the clutch spring 162 is larger than theoutside diameter of the tube nut 154 when the clutch spring 162 isloaded, thereby disengaging the clutch spring 162 from the tube nut 154and allowing the tube nut 154 to pass through the center aperture of thespring 162 and into the elongated bore of the drive wheel 156.Alternatively, the inside diameter of the clutch spring 162 is smallerthan the outside diameter of the tube nut 154 when the clutch spring 162is unloaded, thereby engaging or gripping the tube nut 154 and allowingthe drive wheel 156 to rotate the tube nut 154. In the illustratedembodiment, prior to filing the reservoir 130, the clutch spring 162 isheld in the loaded, disengaged position by a spring latch 164 engagedwith the drive wheel 156 (FIGS. 7-9). After the reservoir 130 has beenfilled, the clutch spring 162 may thus be engaged by rotating the drivewheel 156 until the spring latch 164 releases the clutch spring 162(FIG. 10) allowing the clutch spring 162 to unload and grip the tube nut154 (FIGS. 11 and 12), at which time fluid may be dispensed from thereservoir 130 with continued rotation of the drive wheel 156.

As shown, the spring latch 164 may be biased by the clutch spring 162such that as the drive wheel 156 rotates the spring latch 164 movesrotationally against a surface of a reservoir cap 132 until clutchspring 162 deflects the spring latch 164 into a window 133 in thereservoir cap 132. When the spring latch 164 moves into the window 133,the end of the clutch spring 162 held by the spring latch 164 isreleased, thus engaging the clutch mechanism 160. When the clutch spring162 is engaged, the drive wheel 156 contacts an end 163 of the clutchspring 162 to create a thrust on the clutch spring 162 that causes theclutch spring 162 to rotate the tube nut 154. The fluid drive mechanism150 may also use other clutch mechanisms capable of allowing the tubenut 154 or other type of nut or threaded member to pass through theclutch mechanism and then being activated to engage the nut or threadedmember.

In the illustrated embodiment, the drive wheel 156 includes ratchets 157that are engaged by an actuator 158 to incrementally drive the wheel 156and advance the plunger 136 into the reservoir 130. Examples of thisactuation mechanism are described in greater detail in U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2005/0238507, which is fully incorporatedherein by reference.

By using a clutch mechanism, the engagement between the leadscrew andthe nut occurs at assembly, and thus no rotation is needed for the nutto engage the leadscrew by operation of the device. This reduces thenumber of fluid path prime pulses to prime the pump and assures a fulland proper priming of the fluid path before placement on the body. Theclutch mechanism also enables the changing of thread pitch for otherdrug applications without a need to redesign the tilt nut used in fluiddriving mechanisms in other existing pumps. The components of the clutchmechanism are also more easily inspected than the tilt nut assembly.

While the principles of the invention have been described herein, it isto be understood by those skilled in the art that this description ismade only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope ofthe invention. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope ofthe present invention in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown anddescribed herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinaryskill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the presentinvention, which is not to be limited except by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fluid delivery device comprising: a fluidreservoir; a transcutaneous access tool fluidly coupled to the fluidreservoir; and a drive mechanism for driving fluid from the reservoir,the drive mechanism comprising: a plunger received in the reservoir; aleadscrew extending from the plunger; a nut threadably engaged with theleadscrew; a drive wheel; and a clutch mechanism coupled to the drivewheel, wherein the clutch mechanism is configured to allow the nut topass through the clutch mechanism when disengaged and is configured togrip the nut when engaged such that the drive wheel rotates the nut toadvance the leadscrew and the plunger into the reservoir.
 2. The fluiddelivery device of claim 1 wherein the nut is a tube nut.
 3. The fluiddelivery device of claim 2 wherein the clutch mechanism includes aclutch spring that grips the tube nut when released.
 4. The fluiddelivery device of claim 3 wherein the clutch mechanism further includesa spring latch configured to hold the clutch spring in a disengagedposition and configured to release the clutch spring such that theclutch spring moves to an engaged position.
 5. The fluid delivery deviceof claim 4 wherein the spring latch is configured to release the clutchspring in response to movement of the drive wheel.
 6. A fluid deliverydevice comprising: a fluid reservoir; a transcutaneous access toolfluidly coupled to the fluid reservoir; and a drive mechanism fordriving fluid from the reservoir, the drive mechanism comprising: aplunger received in the reservoir; an elongated assembly comprising afirst elongated member and a second elongated member; the firstelongated member extending from the plunger; the second elongated membercoupled to the first elongated member; a drive wheel; and a clutchmechanism coupled to the drive wheel, wherein the clutch mechanism isconfigured to allow the second elongated member to pass through whendisengaged and is configured to grip the second elongated member whenengaged such that the drive wheel rotates the second elongated member toadvance the first elongated member and the plunger into the reservoir.7. The fluid delivery device of claim 6 wherein: the first elongatedmember comprises a first threaded member; the second elongated membercomprises a second threaded member; the second threaded member is inthreaded engagement with the first threaded member; and the clutchmechanism is configured to allow the second threaded member to passthrough when disengaged and is configured to grip the second threadedmember when engaged such that the drive wheel rotates the secondthreaded member to advance the first threaded member and the plungerinto the reservoir.
 8. The fluid delivery device of claim 7 wherein thefirst elongated threaded member comprises a first threaded shaft havingexternal threads.
 9. The fluid delivery device of claim 7 wherein thesecond elongated threaded member comprises a second threaded shafthaving internal threads.
 10. The fluid delivery device of claim 6wherein the clutch mechanism includes a clutch spring that grips thesecond elongated member when released.
 11. The fluid delivery device ofclaim 10 wherein the clutch mechanism further includes a spring latchconfigured to hold the clutch spring in a disengaged position andconfigured to release the clutch spring such that the clutch springmoves to an engaged position.
 12. The fluid delivery device of claim 11wherein the spring latch is configured to release the clutch spring inresponse to movement of the drive wheel.
 13. A method of operating afluid delivery device comprising: providing the fluid delivery device,the device comprising a fluid reservoir; a transcutaneous access toolfluidly coupled to the fluid reservoir; and a drive mechanism fordriving fluid from the reservoir, the drive mechanism comprising anelongated assembly comprising a first elongated member and a secondelongated member; the first elongated member extending from the plunger;the second elongated member coupled to the first elongated member; adrive wheel; and a clutch mechanism coupled to the drive wheel, whereinthe clutch mechanism is configured to allow the second elongated memberto pass through when disengaged and is configured to grip the secondelongated member when engaged such that the drive wheel rotates thesecond elongated member to advance the first elongated member and theplunger into the reservoir; holding the clutch mechanism in a disengagedposition; filling the fluid reservoir with fluid; passing the secondelongated member through the clutch mechanism such that the plunger isretracted within the reservoir; releasing the clutch mechanism from thedisengaged position; and engaging the clutch mechanism with the secondelongated member.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein: the firstelongated member comprises a first threaded member; the second elongatedmember comprises a second threaded member; the second threaded member isin threaded engagement with the first threaded member; and the clutchmechanism is configured to allow the second threaded member to passthrough when disengaged and is configured to grip the second threadedmember when engaged such that the drive wheel rotates the secondthreaded member to advance the first threaded member and the plungerinto the reservoir.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein: the clutchmechanism includes a clutch spring; and passing the second elongatedmember through the clutch mechanism further comprises passing the secondelongated member through the clutch spring of the clutch mechanism. 16.The method of claim 15 wherein: engaging the clutch mechanism with thesecond elongated member further comprises gripping the second elongatedmember with the clutch spring.
 17. The method of claim 15 wherein: theclutch mechanism includes a spring latch; and holding the clutchmechanism in a disengaged position further comprises holding the clutchspring in a disengaged position with the spring latch.
 18. The method ofclaim 17 wherein: releasing the clutch mechanism from the disengagedposition further comprises releasing the clutch spring from the springlatch.
 19. The method of claim 18 further comprising: rotating the drivewheel to release the clutch spring from the spring latch.
 20. The methodof claim 18 further comprising: rotating the drive wheel to dispense thefluid from the reservoir.